Telangana seeks support of Army, Air Force to resume works on SLBC tunnel

Telangana is set to resume work on the SLBC tunnel with help from Indian Army and BRO experts. High-tech surveys using Danish equipment and LiDAR will begin July 12, following a fatal collapse in February that halted the project

Hyderabad: Moves are afoot to resume work on the long-stalled Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel project. Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, who is currently in Delhi, has reportedly sought the cooperation of the Indian Army and Air Force to expedite the tunnel’s completion. In response, the Centre is learned to have approved the deputation of Colonel Parikshit Mehra from the Indian Army and former Director General of the Border Roads Organisation, Harpal Singh, to Telangana.

Colonel Mehra will be appointed as Special Secretary, while Harpal Singh will serve as an honorary advisor. Their expertise is expected to streamline the execution of all ongoing tunnel projects in the State.

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Additionally, the State is procuring advanced electromagnetic survey equipment from Denmark to assess the tunnel’s subsurface conditions up to a depth of one kilometre without excavation. This survey, coupled with LiDAR-equipped helicopter scanning, will offer a detailed understanding of the tunnel’s present condition and facilitate accurate planning for the remaining works.

The survey is scheduled to begin on July 12. This development comes after work on the SLBC tunnel came to a halt following a tragic wall collapse on February 22, which trapped eight workers inside. Despite intensive efforts that continued for over two months, only two bodies could be recovered.